Laminated dental cushion for artificial dentures



Jan. 4, 1966 E. w. TOWN 3,

LAMINATED DENTAL CUSHION FOR ARTIFICIAL DENTURES Filed Jan. 21, 1963 F/GIZ INVENT EDWARD W. 70

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,226,826 a LAMINATED DENTAL CUSHION FOR ARTIFICIAL DENTURES Edward Town, 320 Chester Pike, Norwood, Pa. Filed Jan. 21, 1963,Ser. No. 252,878 4 Claims. (Cl. 32--2) In my prior US. Patent No. 2,392,513, there is disclosed a dental cushion for artificial dentures which has proven satisfactory and which comprises a piece or strip of sheet material impregnated with a non-soluble composition which is plastic but does not melt at body temperature.

This cushion, however, has a number of shortcomings. When the user first uses dental cushionsmade inaccordance with my prior patent, the cushion is satisfactory in that it cushions or pads the hard surface of the denture from contact with the tender and sensitive gum tissues.

As the dentures are used with the dental cushions in place the user is able to apply the same jaw pressure as was customarily used with the natural teeth, but with this strong biting pressure the surfaces of the cusps tend to Wear as the teeth grind against each other.

As this wear occurs the dentures n'o longer have the same biting location as when the dentures were first made and the jaw bite becomes closer. As the bite becomes closer the dentures no longer function as originally. As

the change of bite becomes more pronounced the dentures have a tendency to move and slide over the gum tissues. The user, at this stage of the bite change, requires a thicker gage cushion to offset the wear and restore the bite opening to its earlier amount.

It has heretofore been suggested that the impregnation of the cushion of my prior patent be made thicker or heavier but this has not proven satisfactory in that the thicker or heavier imprengation was notonly too bulky but was not sufficiently soft and resilient. The heavier impregnation merely resulted in more of the impregnating material leaving its position and moving to the edge of the denture so that the cushion euded being just as thin as before at the locations of pressure and contact.

It is the principal object of the present-invention to provide an improved dental cushion that is thicker yet softer than the cushion heretofore available and which will tend to restore the original bite as determined when the dentures were first made.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved cushion for artificial dentures in which the facing portion for disposition against the gum tissue is of a softer and more resilient character than has heretofore been available, but which retains the advantageous features of my prior dental cushion referred to above.

It is afurther object of the present invention to provide an improved dental cushion in which one face is particularly adapted for bearing against the internal surface of the denture and in which the other face is soft so as to provide a soft gentle cushioning feeling and action at the surface in engagement with the gum tissue even when the same becomes wet with saliva.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dental cushion having improved capabilities for locking the same in position to provide a surface for contact with the gum, which surface is receptive to additional materials if desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dental cushion which is particularly suitable for 3,226,826 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 ice use with dentures which have become worn by use and where changes in shape of the gum tissues have already occurred with changes in the shape of the cusps occasioned by wear.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved dental cushion which is thicker and softer than dental cushions heretofore available Without sacrifice of the suction action for retaining the denture in position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved dental cushion of the character aforesaid which is particularly suitable for lower dentures, but isnnot limited to use therewith.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a preferred form of sheet material employed in connection with the; present invention, parts being broken away to show the constructiori;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross sectional view taken approximately on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view in vertical cross sec tion and greatly enlarged showing the application of a portion of the cushion for a lower denture prior to positioning in place in the mouth;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view in vertical cross section and greatly enlarged showing the application of a portion of the cushion of a lower denture in place in the mouth;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an upper denture cushion; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a lower denture cushion.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the cushion in accordance with the present invention is preferably made from a laminated fabric 10 which includes a base fabric lamina of a sheet of knitted or woven textile fabric 11, such as cotton flannel, with initial napped or fibrous opposite faces 12 and 13. If desired, the base fabric lamina 11 can be of paper reinforced with a thin sheet of woven open mesh gauze of textile fibers.

The lamina 11 is stiifened in any desired manner, preferably by an impregnating material capable of deformation in the mouth of the user to conform to the shape of 'the gums, and of retaining the shape which is attained.

For this purpose, as in my prior Letters Patent, a wax can advantageously be employed, such as that used by dentists in making oral impressions and which is tasteless and will soften but not melt at body temperature.

The lamina 11 has adherently secured thereto in any desired manner, but preferably by adherence attendant upon the impregnating material, a lamina 14. In one preferred embodiment the lamina M can comprise a knitted or woven fabric, similar to or identical with the fabric lamina 11, and with an exposed napped or fibrous face 15. The face 15 in and of itself provides a soft cushion and also provides a place for the application of denture holding powders which will be retained by the face 15, with a greatly reduced tendency towards migration into the mouth.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the lamina 14 can consist of cotton linters or loose cotton fibers in a layer sufficient in amount so that when compressed it is equivalent in thickness to the knitted or woven fabric of the base lamina 11. The quantity and thickness can be varied, can be in excess of the amount stated and can be of a lesser amount down to about one half the equivalent thickness but not to a point where the cushioning action is not retained and readily available. The fibrous cotton lamina is preferably secured by adherence attendant upon the impregnating material.

In use, the fabric is cut into cushions 16 of C-shape for use with upper dentures and cut into cushions 16' of D-shape for use with lower dentures and the exposed face of the impregnated lamina applied against the interior of a denture 17.

If it is desired to apply a holding powder, antiseptic powder, or the like, this is then sprinkled onto the face 15.

The denture 17 and the cushion 16 or 16' are moved into position with the cushion 16 or 16 interposed between the denture 17 and the gum 18 and the jaws are closed.

The heat and pressure will cause the cushion 16 or 16 to quickly conform to the shape of the denture 17 on one side and the gum 18 on the other. The face 15, with or without additive powder applied thereto, will provide a soft cushion in direct contact with the gums even when the face absorbs saliva.

In FIG. 3 of the drawings, the initial deformation of the cushion 16' is illustrated while in FIG. 4 the cushioning action with the cushion 16 in place is shown. The cushion 16 or 16 has the face 15 thereof in direct comfort enhancing contact with the gum 18 while the interior of the denture 17 has the face 12 of the cushion 16 in contact therewith.

When the denture 17 is removed for cleaning, the cushion 16 or 16 can be removed and replaced before the denture 17 is reinserted into the mouth.

I claim:

1. A cushion for an artificial denture conforming to the shape of the denture for insertion between the denture and the gum, said cushion comprising a laminated fabric having the characteristic of shape retention and of deformation and conformability to the denture and to the gum upon subjection to body temperature and a cushion face for engagement with the gum, said fabric consisting of a lamina of a base fabric impregnated with a deformable shape retaining agent which will soften but not melt at body temperature and another deformable lamina in direct adherent engagement therewith, said second lamina being held in position by the engagement of the impregnating agent therewith and having an outer and exposed fibrous cushion face for retention of saliva and adherent contact with the gum.

2. A cushion for an artificial denture as defined in claim 1 in which said base fabric lamina is a textile fabric.

3. A cushion for an artificial denture as defined in claim 1 in which said second lamina is a napped textile fabric.

4. A cushion for an artificial denture as defined in claim 1 in which said second lamina is a layer of loose cotton fibers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,050,561 1/1913 Moore 32-2 2,392,513 1/1946 Town 32-2 2,616,821 11/1952 Harrison 322 X 2,771,675 11/1956 Willis 322 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. MORGAN, RICHARD A. GAUDET,

Examiners. 

1. A CUSHION FOR AN ARTIFICIAL DENTURE CONFORMING TO THE SHAPE OF THE DENTURE FOR INSERTION BETWEEN THE DENTURE AND THE GUM, SAID CUSHION COMPRISING A LAMINATED FABRIC HAVING A CHARACTERISTIC OF SHAPE RETENTION AND OF DEFORMATION AND CONFORMABILITY TO THE DENTURE AND TO THE GUM UPON SUBJECTION TO BODY TEMPERATURE AND A CUSHION FACE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GUM, SAID FABRIC CONSISTING OF A LAMINA OF A BASE FABRIC IMPREGNATED WITH A DEFORMABLE SHAPE RETAINING AGENT WHICH WILL SOFTEN BUT NOT MELT AT BODY TEMPERATURE AND ANOTHER DEFORMABLE LAMINA IN DIRECT ADHERENT ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, SAID SECOND LAMINA BEING HELD IN POSITION BY THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE IMPREGNATING AGENT THEREWITH AND HAVING AN OUTER AND EXPOSED FIBROUS CUSHION FACE FOR RETENTION OF SALIVA AND ADHERENT CONTACT WITH THE GUM. 